Assess your medical needs by consulting a medical aid broker, or contact a number of respected South African medical schemes independently. Choose a plan that suits your needs; if you're healthy and not prone to sickness, it may be a good idea to get a medical aid plan that features low day-to-day benefits, but substantial hospital coverage.

This will stand you in good stead in the case of a car accident, for example. Always read the small print regarding benefits, thresholds and conditions for cover.

Yes, providing they can pay the required monthly premiums. In some instances, treatment for a particular condition or medical need may be excluded for a period of time. For example, you cannot sign up for a comprehensive medical aid plan with maternity cover after you've already fallen pregnant.

The best time to obtain good medical cover is now, while you are still healthy and not afflicted. Additionally, some medical schemes may charge higher rates for people who only join once they start getting older.

Membership of open medical schemes is open to all members of the public. Membership of closed medical schemes is restricted to employees, a specific profession, association or union.

Day-to-day cover limits determine the maximum that a medical aid member or his/her dependants can spend on minor medical expenses (predominantly out-of-hospital expenses) during the course of a given year. These medical cover limits usually apply to specific categories (dental, consultations, specialist appointments, physiotherapy, etc.)

The lower the cost of your medical aid plan, the lower the day-to-day medical cover limits will be. However, most hospital plans, despite the lower costs associated with these, will still feature sufficient hospital cover. On some medical aid plans the day-to-day limits are quite high, but this will obviously be reflected in higher monthly membership premiums.